By Catherine Christiansen
Keeping old traditions alive for the next generation. Join in for the fun and excitement of the 63rd Redwood Riders Black Bart Parade on June 29, 2024. No fee to enter. Participants are both horse owners and non-horse owners; decorate your ride, and come have fun!
Parade line up starts at 10 a.m. at the Redwood Riders Arena, 8300 East Road, Redwood Valley. For more information contact Jessica Taaning 485-0487 or Bev Klee 272-4336. Registration is at 9 a.m. at the Jameson Arena, 8300 East Road Redwood Valley. The Lineup starts at 10 a.m. and the parade starts at 11 a.m.. Judging is in front of the fire station, there will be cash awards for best Black Bart and Baby Black Bart, among other awards.
Immediately following the parade will be BBQ/Awards/Live Music at the Redwood Riders Arena Grounds. Don't miss 'the best in the West and most talked about in the East' BBQ, made possible through community business donations, Redwood Valley Riders volunteers, your donations and the culinary skills of Jessica Taaning, and others.
The Black Bart Parade was started on June 29, 1961 by the founding members of the Redwood Riders. The parade was started to provide the Redwood Valley residents their own community parade and raise awareness of cancer.
The date for the Redwood Riders Parade is always the Saturday before the Willits 4th of July Parade. Many Redwood Valley and Willits residents have participated in and enjoyed each other's parades. What better way to celebrate the birth of our Nation, the Redwood Valley Community and keep the memories of the Old West and Black Bart alive.
In 1992 it looked like the Black Bart parade would be cancelled. Jessica Taaning, a 5th generation Redwood Valley resident was a pre-tween when she participated in the first Black Bart Parade. She remembers what it means, as a child, to be embraced by a club and the importance of having a 'whole family' event that brings the community together. With her leadership the parade took place that year and continues on to today.
Most of the cash prizes are for the Black Bart Costumes. Who is Black Bart? Black Bart is the nickname for Charles Boles, born in Norfolk England February 28, 1888. He and his brothers came to America with their parents to the East Coast of America, and started farming. Later, Charles and his brothers traveled to the West Coast for the Gold Rush and returned to the East for a few years of peace before Charles enlisted in the Army, Company B, 116th Illinois Regiment. He returned home to his family for a few years after the Civil War then on to Montana and Idaho to search for gold. He had an unpleasant encounter with some Wells Fargo & Company agents and vowed to exact revenge. He adopted the nickname "Black Bart" and robbed at least 28 Wells Fargo stagecoaches across northern California and Oregon.
He was afraid of horses and made his robberies on foot. It is also reported that he never once fired a weapon during his years as an outlaw, he was polite and used no foul language (except in his poems). A long linen duster coat, a bowler hat, a flour sack with holes cut for his eyes, and a shotgun was his signature trademark look.
Wells Fargo pressed charges when he was caught on the final robbery. Black Bart was sentenced to San Quentin Prison for six years. He was released and there are different accounts as to how he spent his last days.
Black Bart left two poetic verses that have been authenticated. This one is from the 8/3/1877 holdup of a stage traveling from Point Arena to Duncan Mills, California:
I've labored long and hard for bread,
For honor, and for riches,
But on my corns to long you've tread,
You fine-haired sons of B*ches
And the other poem was left at the site of his July 28, 1878 holdup of a stage traveling from Quincy to Oroville, California:
Here I lay me down to sleep
To wait the coming morrow,
Perhaps success, perhaps defeat,
And everlasting sorrow.
Let come what will, I'll try it on,
My condition can't be worse;
And if there's money in that box
'Tis munny in my purse.
If you are a movie buff or looking for some parade costume ideas, there is a silent 1917 film called 'A Romance of the Redwoods', directed by Cecil B. DeMille staring Mary Pickford, where the leading male character is a highwayman named "Black" Brown and largely parallels Black Bart's life. Dan Duryea starred as Black Bart in a 1948 film produced by Universal Studios titled 'Black Bart'. In 1954, Arthur Space played Black Bart in the episode of Jim Davis's syndicated western television series, 'Stories of the Century'.
Come have fun, enjoy an inexpensive event for the whole family and experience community spirit. No alcohol allowed before or during the parade, on arena grounds, or along the parade route. Stallions must be handled by participant over 18 years of age only.
Catherine Christiansen is a local attorney.
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